So, yeah, to call Violet and Seraphina Affleck leading ladies may be a bit premature, and perhaps just a smidge weird. Yet, there’s no doubt that these girls are already a couple of the coolest chicks in Hollywood who will go on to great things either in or out of the industry.
Photo via People.com
For one thing, they have the blood of Hollywood royalty. The daughters of Ben Affleck (Oscar winner, Boston charmer, official best friend to Matt Damon) and Jennifer Garner (Alias superspy, rom-com heroine, effortless hair model), Violet and Seraphina have a legacy of talent to live up to. And although it’s still early, they’re already doing the Affleck name proud.
The oldest of the Affleck’s brood is Violet, also known as the wisest 7 year-year-old alive and my model for living a life of sophisticated responsibility. A mini version of her mom, the girl knows how to rock a skirt/handbag combo, and could teach us all a little something about summer dresses. But more importantly, Violet has a diverse array of talents for someone who recently lost her two front teeth. From rollerblading, to spelling bees, to taking care of her younger siblings, Violet is the perfect child in so many ways. She wears glasses because she knows that 1. She can pull them off and 2. She’s smart and doesn’t care who knows it (Um-hum, Suri).
That’s not to say that Violet’s younger sister, Seraphina, is any less perfect. In fact, if Violet is like Jennifer, Seraphina is the cool, Ben-inspired mini-me. The 4-year-old has her own quirky feminine sense of style and isn’t afraid to take risks. She recently got a bob before Jennifer Lawrence; thereby cementing her status early on as an edgy Hollywood trendsetter. But mostly, Sera (as she’s nicknamed), spends a lot of time being adorable with Ben Affleck. They go for almost daily coffee runs, make cute faces, and he even cheers her on when she goes running. And who could blame him for wanting to hang out with her? She’s got a fun, free spirit, and with a beautiful role model of a sister, there can only be more good things to come.
In all, I’m not saying I want to be Violet or Seraphina Affleck, because that would be ridiculous. One should probably not emulate 7 or 4- year-old children in terms of life decisions. Yet, if one had to pick a duo of children to emulate, it would certainly be this one.
And yeah, Samuel Affleck is pretty cute too. But we all know it’s all about the girls.
So admittedly, I’ve never met Meryl Streep. And I’ve certainly never had a one-on-one sit down with the greatest actress ever to walk the face of the planet. But, if granted the opportunity, I imagine our conversation would go a little something like this.
Meryl, thank you for meeting with me today! First of all, how do you live your life being so consistently amazing?
Aw, stop it. I’m just lucky to have a career that I love and a family that makes my life complete.
That’s beautiful. Speaking of your family, you’ve been married to your husband, Don, for 35 years. How have you made the relationship work through a prolific Hollywood career and raising four children?
I would say commitment and communication. My husband and family have always been the most important things to me. I’m lucky to have three beautiful daughters and a handsome son, and I’m so proud of all of them. We just support each other and they really keep me grounded. Honestly, Abbey, I feel like you would fit right into our family.
The goddess herself. Photo via Vincent Luigi Molino,
You’re too much, Meryl, but I accept your invitation to become your honorary daughter/gal pal! Your lovely husband aside, you’ve had some pretty stellar male costars in your day including Robert Redford, Alec Baldwin, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, and a (pre-chair talk) Clint Eastwood. Who has been your favorite leading man?
Tough question. I would have to say Pierce Brosnan, based on pure singing abilities. Haha, just kidding! Honestly, I’ve loved working with all my costars, even the strangely intense ones like Robert De Niro. They’ve all brought something unique to the craft and I’ve learned how to improve my acting from all of them. Overall, though, anytime you’re hanging out on a safari with a young Robert Redford, it’s going to be a fulfilling project.
Agreed. You’ve played some really iconic characters in diverse films such as The Devil Wears Prada and The Iron Lady. How do you delve so deeply into a charter and craft such a distinctive portrait of the people you’re playing?
A lot of research is involved, especially when I’m portraying a real person. I work with dialect coaches, historians, the writers and filmmakers, and even other actors to ensure I’m giving the most authentic performance possible. It’s important for me to put my full focus on a role and completely immerse myself in it so that I truly come to understand my characters.
Well, clearly it’s that kind of dedication that has earned you 17 Oscar nominations and three wins. What about your passions outside of acting including your charity work?
It’s really important to me to use my Hollywood role to advocate for larger social issues. I’m especially involved with the fight for women’s rights and freedom in women’s reproductive health. I’ve been lucky enough to partner with the Center for Reproductive Rights and The National Women’s Museum to advocate for women everywhere. My husband and I also actually have a charity, Silver Mountain Foundation For the Arts, which works to help other international organizations and promotes arts education. All of this work is an intensely meaningful portion of my life.
Meanwhile, you’re best buds with Viola Davis and get kissed by Colin Firth. Is it safe to say that the perks of being a world-class actress in Hollywood outweigh the struggles?
Oh, yeah. It can be a tough job sometimes, but I love it and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Rocking the puppy purse like none other. Photo via Ace Showbiz
A few short months ago, Quvenzhané Wallis would have been a failed attempt to make up a winning triple word score in Scrabble. But today, she is an Oscar nominated actress with a bright future ahead of her. Thanks to her staring turn as Hushpuppy in Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild, Wallis has now almost become a household name (one that most households can’t pronounce, but still).
Known for her trademark puppy purses, the nine-year-old star has bombarded Hollywood with cuteness and the kind of honest sass that leaves Chelsea Handler in giggle fits. From talking about her love of animals and style preferences, to new career opportunities, Wallis was a fresh, entertaining face on the red carpet this year.
Yet, despite her silly side and vibrant personality, Wallis is unquestionably one of the most talented actors in young Hollywood today. Beasts was her film, a beautiful statement on family, home, and life in bayou. There is no doubt that Wallis will continue to shine with the same kind of power, grace and spirit in her future projects, including her starring role in the upcoming Will Gluck production of Annie.
In the meantime, we should all follow Quvenzhané’s lead and celebrate her accomplishments. As the youngest person ever to receive an academy award nomination, Little Q deserves a fist pump from all of us. Not only is she adorable, talented, and destined for Hollywood greatness, but she has the positive attitude to back it up. In all, we all certainly have many more puppy purses in our future.
LA's Leading Ladies 